Possible Delay for Brawl

Retailers have begun listing new release dates in early March. No word yet from Nintendo.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl, one of the most highly anticipated games of this or any other year, was already delayed from late 2007 until February 10 for North America. Now, reports are pointing to yet another delay, this time to the second week of March.

GameFly, the online game rental service that works much like Netflix, now lists a release date of 03/12/2008 for the game. GameCrazy, the game retailer affiliated with Hollywood Video stores, is listing 03/31/2008, but release dates on the last day of a month typically mean the game could be released at any time during that month. Other major online retailers, including EBgames.com, Outpost.com, Amazon.com, and Walmart.com, are still displaying the February 10 date.

However, Nintendo World Report has learned from a trusted source, who wishes to remain anonymous, that Wal-Mart's corporate database has indeed been updated to reflect an early March release for Brawl. With the world's largest retailer expecting a delay for the game, it can only be a matter of time before Nintendo makes an official announcement of Brawl's new release date.

Talkback

This is terrible news. Unless more stuff is added. However, I don't see the necessity if the game is supposed to be released in Japan in 15 days. I didn't think they'd need more time to translate, really. Besides, the Japanese version was supposed to have gone gold.

QuoteOriginally posted by: NewsBotHowever, Nintendo World Report has learned from a trusted source, who wishes to remain anonymous, that Wal-Mart's corporate database has indeed been updated to reflect an early March release for Brawl.

Maybe a late bug was found. Maybe NOA wasn't given enough time for the translation. Maybe the online servers won't be ready yet. Who knows.

Well if it's being released in Japan in two weeks the online servers should be done. If a bug was discovered they would have delayed the Japanese version of the game as well, but sinse the Japanese version is still coming out on January 24th it can't be that.

The only one that would make sense is NOA needs more time to translate. In a way that might make sense since Brawl doesn't have the option to switch between English and Japanese like Melee did. In Melee's case the english version was already in the Japanese version so Melee got released in America 2-3 weeks later. I guess in Brawls case since the English version is seperate they could need more time for it, but if that's the case

Guess some of use need to either modify or import a Japanese Wii. There's no way I'm going to wait until March when Japan gets this in only 2 weeks.

"Well, I really do love Super Smash Brothers. It’s a great series…but, Nintendo hasn’t asked me yet if they can use Mega Man in their game. I’m still waiting…we have a little bit of time left, it’s not coming out for another few months. They might get around to asking us if we’d like to put Mega Man in Super Smash Brothers. Maybe if somebody from Nintendo is listening to this podcast, they’ll give me a call."

Well, honestly, I usually don't care much to know the specifics of why a game is delayed. It doesn't matter to me, so far as I know it's to add polish. However, this, to me, is too unusual. It doesn't make sense. There's no other big title being released at the same time, there's been much fanfare online about this day, and as far as we can tell, at least the Japanese version of the game is completely finished, meaning no new content will be added. Nintendo has known how much text is in the game, and we've seen in the Dojo that text is being translated basically simultaneously with the Japanese version into several languages, including the two most common languages used in North America. I'll be disappointed this time if the game is delayed here but not in Japan, because as far as I can tell, there's no reason for it. They wouldn't just add one character in to the US version, Sakurai would want everyone to get the same experience.

The only thing I can think of is censorship issues, but Sakurai, I believe, was offered full control of the games, and would probably just want the game to take a higher rating, rather than censor it. Anyone have any ideas as to why? It just makes no sense at all to me!

You know what? If a delay is confirmed for North America I wouldn't mind it that much. It would be crappy, yeah, but right now I am FLAT BROKE. There's no way I could get enough money to get it next month. A delay till March would give me enough time to gather money.

Besides, as long as the game is released in Japan and all the info is leaked a delay in the US is fine by me.

What if Nintendo is delaying Brawl to coordinate with a massive shipment of Wii units to North America? Maybe NOA figures there's no point wasting a killer app when no one can buy a new Wii so they're delaying it just a bit so they can get more consoles in stores.

What if Nintendo's delaying the game so that the already crowded February schedule is eased up for third parties that are depending on titles like No More Heroes, Baroque or Dragon Quest Swords to be hits?

Nintendo's recently had some difficulties meeting software manufacturing demand, so maybe they figure they oughta continue to develop goodwill with third parties by not dumping Smash bros. Brawl inordinately HUGE shipment on top of their important february?

Well, they've got millions of Wii's out here now! I've gotten one, you've actually gotten one, my roommate has one, my parents have one, Pap has one, Smashbrother has had several. I mean, there are what, nearly 10 million Wiis out there in the US, right? It makes sense and sounds like an NOA move, but it's a lame idea for NOA to pull. If we can't come up with anything else, I suppose that's probably the reason why...

But that's the thing: If the game is gold for Japan, if it's already printing, then it isn't Sakurai taking his time, it's someone else getting in the way. I just hope we hear some official info so we know what's going on. I certainly don't distrust our source, what I distrust is the various dates that are popping up.

QuoteOriginally posted by: Smash_BrotherHe can take as long as he needs.

Are we 100% SURE Brawl has gone gold in Japan?

Considering that there are ads for it running in Japan right now and Nintendo is advertising it through their "Everybody's Nintendo" channel I doubt Nintendo would delay it in the middle of the campaign.

Perhaps another reason for the delay is because the US is getting a whole different set of secret characters from the Japanese version. If you look at the "Most requested" list a handful of them come from very obscure, Japan only characters. Not only that, most of them came from games that were released once and forgotten about the next day, meaning that Nintendo couldn't market them in the US through various sequels (like they did with the Fire Emblem characters).

So maybe they decided to make an US specific version which has characters known to us. That include third party characters that might not be so hot in Japan but are beloved in Europe and the US (like Rayman and the rabbids).

"Well, I really do love Super Smash Brothers. It’s a great series…but, Nintendo hasn’t asked me yet if they can use Mega Man in their game. I’m still waiting…we have a little bit of time left, it’s not coming out for another few months. They might get around to asking us if we’d like to put Mega Man in Super Smash Brothers. Maybe if somebody from Nintendo is listening to this podcast, they’ll give me a call."

I second the hope for a Mega Man add to Brawl. Am I happy the game will possibly be delayed? I don't like to entertain rumors, but at least I'll have some more time to play No More Heroes. There are a lot of games I want that will be dropping in Feb. all this means to me is saving some loot (maybe). Either way, when it's out I'm buying. Just don't mess with Mario Kart.

As long as the Japanese version stays for this month, I don't care for the American. I have my Japanese Wii which I plan to use for this game, but still... that means none of my friends will be playing online with me.

QuoteOriginally posted by: pSYCO-gAMER321As long as the Japanese version stays for this month, I don't care for the American. I have my Japanese Wii which I plan to use for this game, but still... that means none of my friends will be playing online with me.

A Go Nintendo reader supposedly asked a Nintendo rep about the delay and this is what they told him:"I empathize with your frustration at having to wait a little longer to play Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Like you, many of us here were counting down the days until the December release.

Having said that, we know that the development team has been working to make this edition of Super Smash Bros. the best ever, and wouldn’t push back a firm release date unless there was a good reason to do so. It’s worth noting that there are still many things about this game that haven’t yet been revealed. On behalf of Nintendo I ask for your patience as we prepare for the February 10th launch date."

What if they're delaying to coincide with the debut of original content on the WiiWare channel, and it will be the first game to use the WiiWare channel to update the game, AND it will launch with the expandable hardrive (20GB disk with an SDHC port ftw!!) which would further it's status as the Wii's first "complete" game, thus far they've thought of everything for this game, this wouldn't even be the icing on the cake, it would be more like the bride and groom figurines on the top...

Maybe it is going to be a timed Gamestop exclusive. Gamespot beat Wal-mart last year as the biggest retailer of Nintendo products in the U.S., so maybe they are using that clout to get some kind of deal out of Nintendo.

QuoteOriginally posted by: MaryJaneWhat if they're delaying to coincide with the debut of original content on the WiiWare channel, and it will be the first game to use the WiiWare channel to update the game, AND it will launch with the expandable hardrive (20GB disk with an SDHC port ftw!!) which would further it's status as the Wii's first "complete" game, thus far they've thought of everything for this game, this wouldn't even be the icing on the cake, it would be more like the bride and groom figurines on the top...

Of course, it's never going to happen.

Well if we're going to go that far into Fantasy Land let's go all the way. Maybe the delay is to get rid of the friend codes and have Brawl as the launch game for an Xbox Live-like centralized online service for the Wii.

I'm hoping this is so the US and PAL versions can come out at the same time to avoid spoiler issues for unfortunate PAL players. I've been worrying so much about that, i'm gonna have to quit internets and stay indoors until its out here or else i'll see some moron with a Leon Kennedy Smash avatar in or some crap like that. And all that stress just because I don't live in the US or Japan, Nintendo is racist.

My only reason to believe they would 'delay' a game that's gone gold is simple. To produce more. There are how many MILLION Wiis in the US? Maybe they know it's going to be popular and want to cut off more eBay shenanigans? I refuse to believe in the rumor, but that's why I think they'd hold back.

All the menus and in game stuff has been translated due to the update showing them in English, the only thing that could lead to a delay is if they're remove all the japan only music, trophies, and Zero Suit Samus HAWTNESS which suck since judging by Ashley theme the replacement will make your ear/eyes bleed....

QuoteOriginally posted by: steveyAll the menus and in game stuff has been translated due to the update showing them in English, the only thing that could lead to a delay is if they're remove all the japan only music, trophies, and Zero Suit Samus HAWTNESS which suck since judging by Ashley theme the replacement will make your ear/eyes bleed....

Why would they replace ZS Samus? She's already been demoed in the US, plus the character is a major part of her moveset.

I think people are getting too panicky around here...

Also, thinking about stores changing the game's release date I would say take everything with a grain of salt. I mention it because stores sometimes have the tendency of changing the dates. For example, when I reserved Mario Party 8 Gamestop told me the game was going to be released in March, even though Nintendo has just announced that the game was delayed till June. And just recently, EB Games told my parents that Brawl would be out by the end of the month because Nintendo moved the release date UP!

So, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a case of retailers changing dates simply because everyone else is doing so.

QuoteOriginally posted by: optimisticlimboMy only reason to believe they would 'delay' a game that's gone gold is simple. To produce more. There are how many MILLION Wiis in the US? Maybe they know it's going to be popular and want to cut off more eBay shenanigans? I refuse to believe in the rumor, but that's why I think they'd hold back.

You know, that's a great point.. SSBM was the highest selling Cube game - Brawl will have crazy demand.